Adhesive cord cover

ABSTRACT

An adhesive cord cover for enveloping a cord, such as an electrical cord or chandelier chain. The adhesive cord cover is formed from a lengthwise strip of fabric. A pressure sensitive adhesive is attached to the fabric strip, preferably along a first lengthwise edge. The pressure sensitive adhesive is positioned and configured to allow a fastening side of the pressure sensitive adhesive to be selectively adhered to the lengthwise strip of fabric to thereby form a tubular configuration for enveloping a cord.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/634,204,filed Aug. 5, 2003, entitled Adhesive Card Cover, which is pending, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to decorative covers for linearobjects such as electrical cords, chandelier chains, and pipes andmethods for their use and, more specifically, to a decorative cord coverthat includes a pressure sensitive adhesive strip for facilitatingdeployment of the cord cover around such objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, electrical fixtures, appliances, and the like for use in thehome or elsewhere are supplied power through an electrical cordextending from an electrical outlet to the fixture. Often, theelectrical fixture, such as a lamp, radio or other small appliance ispositioned within the room, leaving the electrical cord visible topersons in the room. The electrical cord is not aesthetically pleasing.Similar aesthetic problems are encountered with chandelier chains, whichextend downward from a ceiling and include an electrical cord, which istypically intertwined with the chain. Additionally, multiple cords maybecome entangled with one another. There is thus a need for devices thataccent the appearance of plug in electrical cords and coordinate thecord with the room's decor, and which can also be used to minimize oreliminate tangling of multiple cords. The foregoing problems occur notonly with electrical cords, but also with other types of plug-in cordsand lines that carry data, such as telephone lines, coaxial cables, andthe like. As used herein, the term “electrical cord” shall mean andinclude all such lengthwise cords, lines and cables that are used inhome and office settings.

Removable cylindrically shaped covers have been used to cover amultitude of devices including cart handles, insulating covers for fluidcontainers, and protective jackets for conductors, chandelier chains andthe like. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,866,649; 3,654,049;3,906,129; and 3,038,558. These applications disclose covers securedaround an item by a fastening device such as a zipper, extruded fasteneror hook-and-loop type fastening material. All of these examples aresimilar in that the secured cover can be removed by simply unfasteningthe fastening device. In each case, the device includes a pair ofmatching fastening means which adhere to one another.

The present invention improves particularly upon U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,939(Hutchins), which discloses an adjustable and removable chandelier cordcover. The Hutchins cover is made of a lengthwise strip of fabricmaterial that has first and second engaging edges. A first strip offastening material is fixedly secured to one of the engaging edges and asecond strip of fastening material is fixedly secured to the otherengaging edge. The two strips of fastening material engage one anotherwhen the two strips are joined together. The specification discusses theconfiguration and location of the two strips at column 1, lines 45-59,column 2, lines 43-57 and column 3, lines 1-15. Throughout thespecification, one of the strips of fastening materials is described ashaving “hooks” while the other strip of fastening material is describedas having “loops.” The specification further notes that a typicalexample of material suitable for this purpose is that sold under thetrademarks VELSTICK® and VELCRO®. Column 3, lines 7-9. Nowhere in thespecification is there any suggestion that the second strip can beeliminated.

Pressure sensitive adhesive transfer tapes or double stick tapes arewidely used to bond two surfaces together. One of the advantages ofusing transfer tapes is that they are easier to dispense and apply thanliquid adhesives, which must be dispensed from a container.

As far as the inventor can determine, no attempts have been made toapply pressure sensitive adhesives to cord covers. There is thus a needfor a cord cover having the following characteristics and advantagesover the prior art.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a cord cover that can bereadily applied around a cord, such as an electrical cord, a cable, atelephone line, or a chandelier chain.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cord cover that iseasier and less expensive to manufacture than prior art cord covers.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a cord cover thatcan be adjusted to various diameters along its length, so as to cover anobject that varies in diameter along its length.

The invention is an adhesive cord cover device for use in enveloping alinear object such as an electrical cord, a cable, telephone lines, achandelier chain, a rod, a pipe, or the like. The cord cover is usedprimarily for decorative purposes. The adhesive cord cover is formedfrom a lengthwise strip of fabric. The lengthwise strip of fabric has afirst widthwise edge, a second widthwise edge, a first lengthwise edge,a second lengthwise edge, an interior side and an exterior side.

A pressure sensitive adhesive is attached to the fabric strip. Thepressure sensitive adhesive has a base side and a fastening side. Thebase side of the pressure sensitive adhesive is adhered to the fabricstrip. The pressure sensitive adhesive is positioned and configured toallow the fastening side of the pressure sensitive adhesive to beselectively adhered to the lengthwise strip of fabric to thereby form atubular configuration for enveloping the linear object. The tubularconfiguration has a first open end formed along the first widthwise edgeand a second open end formed along the second widthwise edge. In thepreferred embodiment, a base side of the pressure sensitive adhesive isadhered to the interior side of the strip of fabric substantially alongthe first lengthwise edge. In some applications, it is preferable toadhere the fastening side of the adhesive to the exterior side of thestrip of fabric substantially along the second lengthwise edge. By thefastening the lengthwise edges together, the cord cover is provided witha lengthwise opening having a maximum inner diameter. In otherapplications it is preferable to vary the inner diameter of the tubularconfiguration at different locations along the length of the fabricstrip, so as to accommodate irregular objects.

The pressure sensitive adhesive is preferably an adhesive transfer tape.The transfer tape preferably has a removable liner on the fasteningside. The removable liner assists in preserving the adhesive propertiesof the pressure sensitive adhesive prior to use. The pressure sensitiveadhesive transfer tape is preferably a continuous strip that extendssubstantially along the entire length of the piece of fabric.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of one preferred embodiment of the adhesive cordcover of the invention, showing the device in a closed configurationenveloping an electrical cord.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the adhesivecord cover of the invention in an open configuration.

FIG. 3 is a side view of one preferred embodiment of the adhesive cordcover of the invention, showing the device in a closed configurationenveloping the chain and cord of a chandelier.

FIG. 4 is a side view of one preferred embodiment of the adhesive cordcover of the invention, showing the device in an open configuration andfeaturing details

FIG. 5 is cross-section perspective view of one preferred embodiment ofthe adhesive cord cover of the invention in a closed configuration,showing the use of the adhesive to form a tube.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section frontal view of one preferred embodiment ofthe adhesive cord cover of the invention, showing formation of theclosed configuration.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments,reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof,and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments inwhich the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that otherembodiments maybe utilized and structural changes maybe made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the invention is an adhesive cord coverdevice 1 for use in enveloping a linear object 100, such an electricalcord, a cable, telephone lines, a chandelier chain, a rod, a pipe, orthe like, primarily for decorative purposes. Although the cord cover 1is designed primarily for covering cords, it can also be used to coverother linear objects such as pipes, ceiling fan poles, curtain rods,shower curtain rods, closet rods, sides of bed frames and recliner chairhandles.

As shown in FIG. 2, the adhesive cord cover 1 is formed from alengthwise strip of fabric 20. The lengthwise strip of fabric 20 has afirst widthwise edge 22, a second widthwise edge 23, a first lengthwiseedge 24, a second lengthwise edge 25, an interior side 28 and anexterior side 29. Prior to use, the device 1 is in the openconfiguration shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. During use, the device 1 isconfigured into a closed tubular configuration, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3and 5, using a pressure sensitive adhesive 80.

As shown in FIG. 4, a pressure sensitive adhesive 80 is attached to thefabric strip 20. The pressure sensitive adhesive 80 has a base side 81Band a fastening side 81F. As shown in FIG. 4, the base side 81B of thepressure sensitive adhesive 80 is adhered to the fabric strip 20, evenwhen the device 1 is in an open configuration. The pressure sensitiveadhesive 80 is positioned and configured to allow the fastening side 81Fof the pressure sensitive adhesive 80 to be selectively adhered to thelengthwise strip of fabric 20 to thereby form a tubular configurationfor enveloping a linear object 100, such as a cord. As shown in FIG. 1,the tubular configuration has a first open end 12 formed along the firstwidthwise edge 22 and a second open end 13 formed along the secondwidthwise edge 23.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the base side 8 1B of thepressure sensitive adhesive 80 is adhered to the interior side 28 of thestrip of fabric 20 substantially along the first lengthwise edge 24. Byplacing the adhesive 80 along the edge, a larger width of fabric isavailable to form the closed tube. However, the base side 81B of theadhesive 80 can be adhered to the exterior side 29 of the fabric 20 or aselected distance from the first lengthwise edge 24 without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Likewise, as shown in FIGS.5 and 6, it is preferable to adhere the fastening side 81F of theadhesive 80 to the exterior side 29 of the strip of fabric 20substantially along the second lengthwise edge 25. By the fastening thelengthwise edges 24, 25 together, the cord cover is provided with alengthwise opening 25 having a maximum inner diameter. However, thefastening side 81F of the adhesive 80 can be adhered to the interiorside 28 of the fabric 20 or a selected distance from the secondlengthwise edge 25 without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

The pressure sensitive adhesive 80 may be reusable for a limited numberof times, which allows the cord cover 1 to be opened and reused. Oncethe adhesive 80 becomes fatigued to the point that it no longer hassufficient adhesive strength to achieve the purpose of the invention,the adhesive 80 can be replaced with a new adhesive 80.

The pressure sensitive adhesive 80 is preferably an adhesive transfertape. Adhesive transfer tape 80 has the advantage of being inexpensive,easy to work with, easy to apply during the manufacturing process, andrelatively easy to remove and replace with a new strip of transfer tape.It is also easy to overlay a new strip of transfer tape 80 over an olderfatigued strip of transfer tape 80. Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 2and 4, the transfer tape 80 preferably has a removable liner 82 on thefastening side 81F. The removable liner 82 assists in preserving theadhesive properties of the pressure sensitive adhesive 80 prior to use.As shown in FIG. 2, the liner 82 is selectively removable from thefastening side 81F of the transfer tape 80 to thereby allow thefastening side 81F of the transfer tape 80 to be selectively adhered tothe strip of fabric 20 to form the closed tubular configuration. Theinventor's experiments indicate that the two most effective transfertapes for use in the invention are 3M® VHB® 9485 transfer tape andSCOTCH® 908 adhesive transfer tape.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pressure sensitive adhesive transfer tape 80 ispreferably a continuous strip that extends substantially along theentire length of the piece of fabric 20. A continuous strip is easier toapply to the cord cover 1 during manufacture, and ensures a continuous,and thus stronger, seal when the cord cover 1 is in a closed tubularconfiguration. However, the pressure sensitive adhesive 80 can also bediscontinuous, such as multiple short strips. The use of a discontinuouslayout for the adhesive 80 reduces the cost of adhesive material.Additionally, some users may prefer to have multiple adhesivesections/areas 80 that are covered with a liner 82, such that the liner82 can be removed from each section of adhesive 80 just prior to usingthe adhesive 80 in that particular section. Alternatively, the adhesive80 could be applied in the form of a glue that is extruded or paintedonto the fabric 20, provided that the glue adhesive retains its adhesiveproperties over an extended period of time.

Unlike the prior art, the adhesive cord cover 1 of the invention doesnot have two strips of fastening material that are configured to engageone another and which are secured on opposite edges of the fabricmaterial (e.g., VELCRO®, snaps). Instead, the cord cover 1 of theinvention uses one fastening means 80 that can be selectively adhereddirectly to the fabric of the cord cover 1 in order to form a closedtubular configuration. One of the advantages of this configuration overthe prior art is that it allows the cord cover 1 to be adjusted to fitdifferent diameters, since closure is not dependent upon matching up twoseparate strips of fastening material. Another advantage over the priorart is that the cord cover 1 can be adjusted to different diametersalong its length, with the diameters selected according to variations inthe linear object 100. Thus, if the linear object 100 tapers or bulgesat certain locations, the fastening means 80 can be selectively adheredto the cord cover 1 so as to provide a close fit along the contour ofthe object 100. Another advantage over the prior art is that when thecord cover 1 is set in a vertical or partially vertical orientation, anupper portion of the tubular configuration can be selectively providedwith an inner diameter smaller than a portion of the linear object 100(e.g. an upper link of a chandelier chain), such that the small diameterrests on the object and prevents the cord cover 1 from slipping downwardalong the linear object 100.

The adhesive cord cover 1 is preferably about six inches wide. When asix inch wide cord cover 1 is in the closed configuration of FIG. 5, thecord cover 1 has an inner diameter of about two inches, which issufficient to encase the majority of cords, and also allows room to fitmultiple cords within the same cord cover 1. The cord cover 1 can bemade from a wider piece of fabric 20, particularly for officeapplications, where it may be desirable to run seven or more chordsthrough the cord cover 1.

Lengthwise elastic strips can be used to give the cord cover 1 agathered appearance. As shown in FIG. 4, a first elastic strip 40 ishemmed along the first lengthwise edge 24 of the strip of fabric 20,while a second elastic strip 41 is hemmed along the second lengthwiseedge 25 of the strip of fabric 20. The first and second elastic strips40, 41 together provide the strip of fabric 20 with a gatheredconfiguration. Placing the elastic strips 40, 41 along the lengthwiseedges 24, 25 provides an economical method of creating a gatheredappearance. The cover 1 can be made without the elastic and gathers soas to give a smoother appearance. A smoother appearance worksparticularly well with narrower cords, such as electrical, data ortelecom wire, where gathering may become bulky.

The lengthwise piece of fabric 20 can be readily cut to create a cordcover 1 of a desired length. For example, if the cord cover 1 is tenfeet long but only two feet of cord cover are required to cover acertain cord, the cord cover 1 can be readily cut into separate sectionsof two feet and eight feet long, respectively. The remaining eight footpiece of cord cover 1 can be used to cover a longer cord, or can be cutinto shorter pieces. The fabric 20 and the adhesive material 80 can becut with conventional scissors.

The cord cover 1 is preferably constructed from a pliable material, suchas linen, muslin, cotton, silk (e.g., Dupioni silk), velvet (preferablystretch), satin, nylon, polyester, rayon, leather or vinyl. Materialsthat include Lycra® (e.g., ten percent (10%) Lycra®) have desirablestretching qualities for use in the invention.

Although the adhesive cord cover 1 is intended primarily as a decorativecover, it serves utilitarian functions as well. The cord cover 1 servesto hold a plurality of electrical cords together, and provides anadditional degree of protection to the enclosed electrical cords.Additionally, adhesive cord covers 1 can be manufactured more simply andinexpensively than prior art covers that incorporate a two-partfastening mechanism.

In operation, the invention is used by providing a cord cover 1 havingthe foregoing characteristics, including a pressure sensitive adhesive80 adhered to the strip of fabric 20, preferably along the firstlengthwise edge 24. The interior side 28 of the strip of fabric 20 isplaced along a cord 100. The second lengthwise edge 25 of the strip offabric is brought into contact with the pressure sensitive adhesive 80,and pressure is then applied to the fabric to thereby attach the secondlengthwise edge 25 of the strip of fabric 20 to the adhesive 80 to forma tube around the cord 100. The tubular configuration has a first openend 12 formed along the first widthwise edge 22 and a second open end 13formed along the second widthwise edge 23, which allows the cord to exitthrough both ends of the tube.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of specificembodiments, it is anticipated that alterations and modificationsthereof will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art. It istherefore intended that the following claims be interpreted as coveringall alterations and modifications that fall within the true spirit andscope of the invention.

1. A method of enveloping a linear object such as a cord, chandelierchain or pipe, said method comprising the steps of: providing alengthwise strip of fabric, said lengthwise strip of fabric having afirst widthwise edge, a second widthwise edge, a first lengthwise edge,a second lengthwise edge, an interior side, an exterior side, and apressure sensitive adhesive adhered to said strip of fabric along saidfirst lengthwise edge; placing said interior side of said strip offabric along said linear object; wrapping said strip of fabric aroundsaid linear object; and bringing said pressure sensitive adhesive intocontact with said strip of fabric, and applying pressure to said fabricto thereby attach said strip of fabric to said adhesive to thereby forma tubular configuration around the linear object, said tubularconfiguration having a first open end formed along said first widthwiseedge and a second open end formed along said second widthwise edge. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive is atransfer tape.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said transfer tape hasa removable liner on said fastening side to thereby assist in preservingadhesive properties of said pressure sensitive adhesive.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive is discontinuous.5. The method of claim 1, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive isreusable for a limited number of times, such that said cord cover can beopened and reused.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising reusingsaid strip of fabric by detaching said second lengthwise edge of saidstrip of fabric from said pressure sensitive adhesive, removing saidstrip of fabric from the linear object, placing said interior side ofsaid strip of fabric along a second cord, bringing said secondlengthwise edge of said strip of fabric into contact with said pressuresensitive adhesive, and applying pressure to said fabric to therebyattach said second lengthwise edge of said strip of fabric to saidadhesive to thereby form a tubular configuration around the second cord,said tubular configuration having a first open end formed along saidfirst widthwise edge and a second open end formed along said secondwidthwise edge.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a firstelastic strip hemmed along said first lengthwise edge of said strip offabric, and a second elastic strip hemmed along said second lengthwiseedge of said strip of fabric, said first and second elastic stripstogether providing said strip of fabric with a gathered configuration.8. The method of claim 1, further comprising replacing said pressuresensitive adhesive when said pressure sensitive adhesive becomesfatigued.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching saidpressure sensitive adhesive to said strip of fabric such that saidtubular configuration has varying inner diameters along said lengthwisestrip of fabric.